polycrystalline

[ pol-ee-kris-tl-in, -ahyn, -een ]

/ ˌpɒl iˈkrɪs tl ɪn, -ˌaɪn, -ˌin /

adjective

(of a rock or metal) composed of aggregates of individual crystals.

having or consisting of crystals that are variously oriented.

QUIZZES

Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following bird names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby polycrystalline

polycotyledon, polycrates, polycrotic, polycrotism, polycrystal, polycrystalline, polyculture, polycyclic, polycyesis, polycystic, polycystic kidney

Origin of polycrystalline

First recorded in 1920–25; poly- + crystalline